Gummed tape dispenser



8 Sheets- Sheet l June 1, 1937.

Filed Nov. 29, 1953 a s 0 Z A r m m J T m k\ \IN 8 G W mmx m5 Mo W Q Q mm, w a 1 June 1, 1937. 'r. R. GAUTIER 2,032,733

GUMMED TAPE DISPENSER Filed Nov. 29, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 liq/Denier.-QwevorR. Gav/2230?, 29 3 K MM @3336 \m, w \m w m5 k\ v Q Q 5 23% 9% 05 m9% m5 1/? n m m \m Wm i m" x wmw I n m "m a J I m 4 m mm Q 3 m w 8. m mu "m w mm mg Q \m 9 h mm W wk 6 Q 8 0% Q 63 mm a l Rm .Q Q mm um I- QMWm Q mm O \\1@W & Q A a a T rN \b GQYIR km mm h Wm km w% m Q 3% 8 i no,mm aw 8 mm,

June 1, 1937'. T. R. GAUTIER GUMMED TAPE DISPENSER Filed Nov. 29, 1933 8Sheets-Sheet 3 0% 6% WWNQN I maven/30?: 1%09720213. Gav/item June 1,1937. T. R. GAUTIER GUMMED TAPE DISPENSER Filed Nov. 29,.1933 8Sheets-$heet 4 June 1, 1937. T. R. GAUTIER 2,082,733

GUMMED TAPE DISPENSER Filed Nov. 29, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inveniov:1%-evo?-R.Gawi?;en I

June 1, 1937. r. R. GAUTIER I GUMMED TAPE DISPENSER s Sheets-Shet 7Filed Nov. 29, 1953 l'f evowfl. Glaze/item 5 M Ew/f, wwf w June 1, 7- T.R. GAUTIER GUMMED TAPE DISPENSER Filed Nov. 29, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Ilnvenior: wevorllfiauiiea Patented June 1, 1937 UNITED STATES GUMMIEDTAPE DISPENSER Trevor R. Gautier, Nashua, N. H., assignor to NashuaGummed and Coated Paper Company, Nashua, N. H.,

chusetts a corporation of Massa- Application November 29, 1933, SerialNo. 700,235

22 Claims.

The present invention relates to means for dispensing gummed tape, asfor package sealing, wrapping and similar purposes, and moreparticularly aims to provide an improved apparatus for the purposestated, having ease and rapidity in operation and which enables theoperator, such as a packer in a shipping room, readily to obtain anydesired positive length of the tape or strip material, in moistenedcondition for application to a package, shipping container or the like.In various respects my present invention represents improvements overthose of my Patent No. 1,540,724, dated June 2, 1925, and my Patent No.1,568,506, dated January 5, 1926, various of its features beingapplicable to machines of the type of said patents, as well as to othertape dispensers.

In the drawings, illustrating by way of example certain embodiments ofthe invention,

Fig. l is a right side elevation of one form of machine in accordancewith the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the machine of Fig 1;

Fig. 2a is an enlarged section showing the upper feed unit;

Fig, 3 is a plan, with the top cover cut away;

Figs. 4 and 5 are front and rear elevations respectively;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation of the feeding means and its operatingconnections;

Fig. 7, on the sheet with Fig. 1, is a side elevation of the operatinglever, as viewed from the inside;

Fig. 8 is an inside elevation of the housing or cover for the feedoperating mechanism;

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are vertical cross sectional views, upon a largerscale, of another form of feeding mechanism, severing means andmoistening means of my invention, illustrated by way of example inconnection with the machine of Figs. 1 to 8;

' Fig. 12 is a view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 1, showing anadditional length-govern ing means for the tape;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged section on the line [3-43 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view on the line I l-44 of Fig. 13 lookingin the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 15 is anelevation corresponding to the fore portion of Fig. l andshowing another form of length-controlling means for the tape;

Fig. 16 is a partial vertical section substantially on the line lB-l6 ofFig. 15; and

Figs, 1'7 and 18 illustrate another form of tape guide means inassociation with the moistener, Fig. 18' being a section on the linel8--i8 of Fig. 17.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 8, the machine as a whole is housed in asuitable framing, herein including the generally similar but oppositelydisposed side frames or castings I, I removably connected by suitablecross members, including the bolts or tie rods 2 and 3 at the front ofthe machine, the similar members 4 and 5 at the rear, and anintermediate cross tie 6, Fig. 2. The frames are equipped withsupporting feet "I, 1 desirably having underlying rubber pads or likecushioning devices 8.

At the rear portion of the machine the side frames I provide betweenthem a well or chamber for the tape supply or roll, and in thisconnection the frames have at their lower rear portions the inwardlyprojecting arcuate flanges 9, It and II, which together provide a flangeelement defining the outer bottom portion of the roll chamber. Theframes also are formed internally with the vertical ribs [2, 13extending substantially the full height of the frame sides, reinforcingthe latter and assisting in positioning the tape supply.

-The upper portion of the machine desirably is closed in by a readilyopenable cover, herein comprising the curved plate H, see particularlyFig. 2, the rear end of which is turned over to form spaced bearings l5received on the upper rear cross tie 5. Opening movement of the covermay be limited as by a stop or pin It on the cross tie 5 between thebearings I5 and adapted to engage the rear edge of the cover. The tapesupply or roll chamber is further and substantially completely closed atits lower rear and also its forward portion by means of a re- -movableclosure strip ll, of a width to fill in the central longitudinal portionof the well between the opposed frame flanges 9, l0 and H. The rear endof this closure strip is turned over for supporting engagement upon thelower rear cross tie 4 and extends from it in approximately semicircularform below the chamber and up wardly at the front of the latter where itmay be removably held in position as by means of a screw is engaged withthe intermediate cross tie 6. In order that the operator may be informedat all times as to the condition of the tape supply roll within theclosed housing, without having to elevate the cover, the side frames areequipped with the inspection openings or windows 19' through either ofwhich the tape roll may be viewed. The upper walls of the windows alsoprovide convenient engaging means for lifting the machine in moving itor adjusting its position.

The support for the tape roll within the housing herein comprises aseries of roller bearings and guides 20, three of which are seen inFigs. 2 and 3, extending substantially the full width between the sideframes and having reduced end portions 2! for rotatably mounting them inthe side frames. The tape roll, positioned upon and by these rollerbearings, is thereby enabled to turn bodily to let off the tape withentire freedom and absence of drag or back lash, and additionally isretained in the desired central position longitudinally of its chamber.

While the machine of my present invention may be designed andproportioned to handle tape of various weights and widths, as hereillustrated it is particularly intended for the service not only of thelighter weights of tape but also of relatively heavy tape, for example,sixtypound weight, and in widths from the narrowest, including one inch,inch and a quarter, and inch and a half tape and up to the three-inchwidth, or in some cases, with wider spacing of the side frames, up tofour inches or even greater. Adjustable guide means desirably isprovided for aligning or centering the tape rolls of the differentwidths, and for this purpose I have shown a pair of guide plates 22,Fig. 2, of general half-circular form, to conform to the lower portionof the tape Well. These guide plates are adapted to be variouslypositioned transversely of the machine. They are slidably and adjustablyassociated at one or the other of their ends, herein at their rearportions, with one of the cross members, in this instance the lowercross tie 4, as by means of the keyhole slots 23, of which the largercircular portions 23 are slidable along the cross tie 4, while thenarrower portions 23 are receivable in annular grooves 4 distributedalong said bar. The lower and the forward portions of the guide plate 22are similarly adjustably positioned as by seating in one or another ofthe series of annular grooves 24 on the roller bearings 2e and on theintermediate tie 6, in alignment with those on the cross tie l. In Fig.3 the guide plates 22 are shown in position for centering and guidingcooperation with a relatively narrow tape. They may readily be adjustedto conform to other widths of tape merely by lifting them and movingtheir rear ends upwardly and rearwardly to bring the portions 23 oftheir slots 23 in line with the cross bar 4, whereupon the guides may beshifted transversely of the machine.

The machine m adapted for use with rolls of tape wrapped either with theglued or gummed side in, or with the gummed side out. case of gum-inrolls, the roll is positioned in the housing so that the tape will leadupwardly at the rear of the roll, whence it is led forwardly over aguide roll 25 having end bearings 26 for rotatably supporting it betweenthe side frames I, the tape passing over this guide roll with its gummedside down. A length of tape so guided is indicated at T in Fig. 2. Inthe case of a roll wrapped gummed side out the tape is brought off fromthe roll at the front of the roll chamber and is carried up to the rearof and thence forwardly oversaid guide roll 25.

Desirably also I provide means for counteracting the tendency of theunreeling tape to curl, which tendency increases as the tape rollbecomes smaller. For this purpoS I. have here- In the in shown ananti-curl device in the form of a roller Ze rotatably supported in theframe at the forepart of the tape chamber. With small tape rolls, orwhen an initially larger roll becomes reduced in diameter, the operatorthreads the tape from the rear of the roll forwardly under the anti-curlmember 20*, then back over the latter and thence up over the guide roll25, in the manner indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 2. This forwardand reverse flexing of the tape counteracts the coiled set of the tapesometimes resulting from its rolled condition, by bending it in theopposite direction, and hence the tape feeds from the machine in lesscurly condition, even with small or reduced diameter rolls.

From the guide roll 25 the tape passes forwardly over a platform or feedtable 30, Figs. 2, 3 and 9. This latter herein comprises a strip havinga down turned rear edge as indicated at 3!, to aid in guiding ordeflecting the tape into the proper plane, and is removably fixed insubstantially horizontal position between the side frames as by means ofdown turned flanges 32 screwed or otherwise secured to them.

The strip or tape is adapted to be fed forwardly over the feed table 39between and by means of a pair of pinch feed rolls or wheels, includingthe lower and herein larger feed roll 35 and the upper feed roll 36. Thelower feed roll, preferably having a knurled or roughened surface forengaging the gummed face of the tape, is rotatably supportedsubstantially centrally between the side frames, on a shaft 31, Figs. 1,2, 6 and particularly Fig. 9, upon which it is removably fixed as bymeans of the set screw 38. The shaft is rotatably supported in suitablebearings or bosses 39, 49 on the respective side frames, wherein it isheld in the axial direction as by means of a collar M, Fig. 9,adjustably positioned on the shaft as by the set screw d2. At one end,externally of the adjacent side frame, herein at the right side of themachine, the shaft has fixed upon it a pinion 43 constituting oneelement of the train of gearing and operating connections for the feedmechanism, to be described.

The feed table 30 as seen in Fig. 2 and also in Fig. 9, is slotted asindicated at M, herein at a point centrally between the side frames, topermit the engagement of the lower feed roll 35 with the under face ofthe tape, in cooperative feeding relation with the vertically oppositenondriven or upper feed roll 36.

In accordance with my present invention the non-driven roll, herein theupper one, or the unit including the roll and its supporting shaft, isitself of novel construction and also particularly cooperates with thetape guiding, feeding and other structural features of the machine as awhole. As seen in Fig. 2, and in detail in Fig. 2a, this upper feed rollunit comprises a cross shaft 65, bodily removable from the machine andyieldable toward and away from the lower roll in opposed pairs of guidesor ribs 4'1, 4'! on the side frames I. Centrally on the shaft 45 is acollar 36 herein comprised as a separate element fitted on the shaft andheld in position axially as by pins 96, 26 at its sides. The collar 38is formed with an annular'groove 35 constituting an inner race orbearing for the circumferential series of balls 36. The feed roll proper36 is an annular element or large apertured wheel having a groove 36 atits inner face cooperating with the groove 36 to complete theball-bearing race. The described construction for the upper feed rollunit. provides a freelyrevoluble member for direct engagement with thetape but affording little orno resistance to the travel of the tape,being substantially frictionless in its bearing support. By reason ofits freely rotating character the outer peripheral face of the roll orwheel may be and preferably is smooth, as indicated in the drawings, sothat in its engagement with the adjacent non-gummed face of the tape itdoes not objectionably mark or mar it, and hence does not deface anydesign, advertisement or printed matter on the tape. Moreover, as saidtape-engaging roll or wheel 36 requires little or no lubrication, butcan readily be lubricated as desired, there is substantially no wear ofthe parts, and the roll retains its axial alignment, withoutobjectionable side play, in contrast with the previous solid wheelsturning directly on their shaft, and which were lubricated withdifficulty if at all. The described upper feed unit and its resultantadvantages have been found an important contributing factor in thecommercial success of the machine of my present invention.

For urging the upper roll 36 into feeding relation with the tape andwith the lower feed roll, suitable spring means are provided, in thisinstance including a pair of springs 48, 48, Figs. 2 and 3, one at eachend of the upper shaft as and hence affording a balanced tension uponthe latter. Each spring comprises a coiled portion removably positionedon a boss 49 projecting inwardly from the corresponding side frame I,

F upon which it may be held as by means of the removable cotter pin orthe like 49 One end portion 56 of each spring extends forwardly over theupper feed roll shaft 45 and maybe positioned in an annular groove inthe latter. The other end of each spring is extended rearwardly and isheld under tension over another lug 5I at an appropriate point on theadjacent side frame I.

In advance of the feed table or platform 3!] is an extension or foreportion 52 thereof, Fig. 2, which may be formed integrally with it or,as illustrated, as a separate strip, in alignment with the main platform30 and having side flanges 53 by which it is removably held between theside frames as by the pairs of bolts 54, 54 at the respective sides.This fore or auxiliary table 52 is spaced from the main table 30 and hasat its rear edge the down turned cutting lip 55.

The severing or cut-off mechanism for the tape is located for operationin the space between the two platform portions 30 and 52. In theillustrated embodiments, referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 10,the severing means includes a fixed member or blade 56 extendingtransversely of and above the tape path. It is adjustably and removablymounted, so that its position may be bodily shifted transversely of themachine, herein by means of the screws or bolts 57 received in laterallyopen slots formedin ears '58 projecting inwardly from the respectiveside rear portion of the side frames. The entire mechansm, up to andincluding the severing means, is thus closed in at the top'by said coverI4.

At one side of the machine, herein the left, the fixed member or blade58 of the severing means is extended outwardly beyond the side frame,through an aperture iii], Figs. 2 and 10, formed in the sideframe andhas a down turned portion as indicated at SI for supporting the pivotedor swinging blade 62, in general parallelism with the. fixed blade forshearing co operation with the edge of the latter but normally lyingbelow the path of the tape. The movable blade 62 is pivoted on a pin 63extending through and carried by the depending portion SI of the fixedblade, and this pin is surrounded by a coil spring 64, Fig. 3, betweenthe head of the pin and the fixed blade, whereby the movable blade isurged toward and biased with respect to the fixed one, to afford thedesired progressive shearing action across the tape. The tension of thespring 64 may be regulated by means of the nut 65 at the opposite end ofthe pm.

In its travel past the feed rolls and the severing means the strip ortape is additionally guided and confined to the proper path by means ofa floating deflector, plate or weight element 61, Figs. 2, 3 and 9..This deflector, which is desirably bodily removable, herein com prisesa substantially rectangular plate having a central slotted formation 68for straddling. the feed rolls. It is loosely retained in operativeposition, with capacity for play both vertically and in the plane of thetape path, by means of down turned fingers 69 at its opposite sidesreceived in oversized slots It in the feed table 30; see particularlyFig. 9. The rear edge of the defiector 6'! has an up turned portion orlip Ii, forming with the underlying table 30 a mouth for the receptionand guiding of the tape as it passes forwardly from the guide roll 25.This deflector plate desirably is additionally confined, againstaccidental displacement from the machine, as by the pairs of upstandingears 81 67 underlying and straddling the upper roll shaft 45 and soassociated with it as to allow the desired freedom or play in the plateabove referred to. The plate may readily be inserted or bodily removedby slightly lifting said spring-pressed floating shaft 45 of the upperfeed roll.

Forwardly of the severing means, the tape is conducted past suitablemoistening means such as a wick, roller, brush or other moistening device. In the present instance the machine is equipped with a reservoiror tank 15 which may be of cast aluminum or other 1-ust-resistingmaterial. It is readily removably supported upon the front upper crosstie 3, which is received between downwardly projecting positioning lugsI5 on the bottom of the reservoir. Near its rear end the reservoir isadditionally supported from below by inwardly projecting lugs l! on therespective side frames, see Fig. 11, and is held against verticaltilting as by means of a finger l8 projecting rearwardly at one-side ofthe reservoir, herein the left, and engaged below a further lug I9 uponthe adjacent side frame I. The under face of the finger 78 may beinclined upwardly, in the manner of a cam, to assist in guiding the rearbottom portion of the reservoir above the lugs I1, when it is replacedafter removal, and one or both the latter may have an associatedcam-like guide I? further to guide the reservoir during insertion.

Within the reservoir at its rear portion, referring to Figs. 2 and 11,is a capillary moistening element 80, herein illustrated as a double orextra thick brush device having a butt or base either single orcompounded of two or more ordinary sized brush butts placed together,said butt portion or portions being set at the desired angle on apositioning step as seen at 8| in Fig. 2. Other brush supports 82transversely spaced at the front of the brush element assist inretaining it in the upright but slightly inclined position illustrated.The wick or brush extends upwardly into or somewhat above the path ofthe tape, for moistening engagement with the under face of the latter.Its upper portion or portions are engaged and operatively positionedbetween the front edge of the auxiliary feed platform 52 and a downturned lip 83 on the removable top cover plate 84 of the reservoir. Thedescribed capillary moistening element, illustrated as a brush of thehair or bristle type, is of sufiicient thickness or extent in thedirection of the tape path to afford adequate moistening of the tapeeven at the high rate of feed herein obtainable, as well as effecting aspreading or evening of the applied moisture as the tape passes over thefront portion of the brush element, in a similar manner but to somewhatgreater degree than with a less extensive brush element. While I haveshown for this purpose a single brush of the desired thick-- ness, thatis, having its hairs or bristles all set in a common butt, either of onepiece or built-up construction, it may be formed in separate orseparable parts, as if two juxtaposed brushes, either contacting orspaced, and in some instances with a sponge rubber or other spacer of acapillary nature interposed.

The down turned lip or flange 83 of the reservoir cover plate 84, whichextends across the front portion of the moistening element, is desirablycarried rearwardly at the sides of the latter to provide positioningfingers 86 thus substantially enclosing and supporting the brush at thesides as well as at the front, these fingers serving also to positionthe cover correctly at its rear portion. The cover is removably held inplace as by means of the screws 87, Fig. 3, received in underlying ribsor reinforcing portions 88, Fig. 2, upon the reservoir walls. A fillingaperture may be formed in the reservoir cover as indicated at 89, whilethe main portion of the cover serves as a delivery table, receiving themoistened tape as it feeds forwardly over the moistening means anddirecting it to the user. In this connection it desirably is formed withparallel longitudinal ribs or raised formations 90, shown as ofdecreasing height toward the front of the reservoir, whereby frictionand sticking of the moistened tape is avoided.

At a convenient point on the reservoir, herein at the left side, Idesirably make provision for the seating of an electrical heater unit,for warming the water or other liquid in the reservoir. For the purposeI have shown the boss 9! having in it a threaded seat 9| closed by aremovable plug N and packing SI By removing the plug, the reservoir isimmediately ready for the reception of a standard or other heater unit,adapted to be threaded into and to close the seat 9W in the same manneras said plug. Such heater is indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

To assist in guiding, moistening and delivering the tape, it isconducted beneath a front deflector or guide 92, Figs. 1 to 4. Thiselement may be variously formed and mounted and in the embodiment ofsaid figures comprises a normally stationary but removable plateextending from a position adjacent the severing blades forwardly to adelivery position in advance of the moistener element. It is removablyheld at its rear end where it is turned up, as indicated at 93, about apin 9t having axial recesses at its ends for reception upon the inwardlyextending ends of the rear screws 54. of the auxiliary platform 52previously described. This front deflector or guide plate 92 includes asubstantially flat rear portion, vertically spaced above the auxiliaryplatform to form with it a tape guiding throat 35. In front of said flatportion and in vertical line with the brush or brushes the plate isarched substantially as indicated at 96, to carry it out of deforming orobjectionable pressing engagement upon the capillary moistener,particularly if the latter is a brush of the bristle type, while itsfore end is curled over for the reception of a pin or weight 91. Thelatter desirably is projected laterally beyond the plate, see Figs. 3and 4, so as to seat at its sides upon one or both side frames I therebyfurther positioning and locating the plate in operative stationary posi-From an inspection of Fig. 2 it will be noted that by reason of thedescribed construction of the deflector or plate 92 the capillaryelement 80 stands normally out of engagement with, or in mere touchingengagement with, the under face of the arched portion 95 of saiddeflector. As the tape is fed forwardly its under face passes over themoistening element in moistening relation with it and immediately infront of the latter the leading edge of the tape comes against and isdownwardly deflected by the forward downwardly extending wall of thearched operation of the deflector. In this manner the tape is forced tobend and bear downwardly, as it passes over the brush or othermoistener, with a predetermined pressure, depending on the shape andlongitudinal extent of the arch 96, the angle of its front wall and theweight of the adjustable stop or pin 91, calculated to afford anefiicient and even moistening of the tape, and avoiding such excesspressure between the moistenor and tape as sometimes occurs by use of aweight resting directly on and supported by the mo-istener and tendingto wipe 01f the adhesive rather than merely to moisten it.

The machine of my present invention is particularly adapted for therapid delivery of lengths of tape including relatively long lengths, forexample, up to say thirty inches by a single stroke or operation of thefeed controlling lever, and for this purpose I have provided the novelconstruction and arrangement of feed mechanism now to be described.Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 6 to 8, the shaft of thelower feed roll 35 carries the toothed pinion 43 previously referred to,said pinion being operatively positioned outside of the adjacent sideframe. This pinion meshes with a larger intermediate gear iilt rotatableon a demountable stud IOI on the side frame, externally thereof, asapparent in Figs. 1, 3 and 6, and having fixed to or formed integrallywith it a relatively small pinion I02. The latter pinion is in mesh witha large spider or ring gear I03 supported for free rotation upon ademountable bearing pin or stud I04 threaded into a boss on the sideframe. The hub ofthe large gear I03 has a squared portion upon which isreceived a ratchet disc I05, for turning as a unit with the gear. Thedescribed gearing and the lower feed roll are so proportioned andrelated, and the main gear I03 is of such size and pitch thatapproximately a one-third rotation of the latter will effect the feedingof a thirty inch length of tape, in contrast to the relatively shortlengths heretofore obtainable by one full feed movement. For example, inthe illustrated mechanism, assuming that the circumference of thedriven, herein the 1 lower, feed roll is six inches, which issubstantially the largest practicable without unduly increasing the.size and weight of the machine and while still retaining the capacityto serve accurate short lengths, the ratio through the gear train issuch that approximately a one-third rotation of the large gear producesfive rotations of the lower feed roll. Or, otherwise stated, the ratiobetween the large gear and the driven feed roll, whether it be the upperor lower roll which is driven, is oneto fifteen, by reason of the markedstep-up between the large gear I03 and the intermediate pinion I02 andthe second but smaller step-up between the intermediate gear IUI and thepinion 43 on the feed roll shaft. Despite this relatively high gearratio, and high speed afforded the feed rolls, heretofore deemedimpracticable in a hand-operated machine, and whereby I obtain thedesired rapidity of feed, the mechanism is nevertheless easy ofoperation, requiring the expenditure of little or no more energy than inprevious slow feeding machines, and to that end I provide for a furthermechanical advantage in the operating mechanism, now to be described,all without unduly increasing the size or weight of the operating parts.

The operating element proper, seen separately in Fig. 7, comprises asubstantially straight lever I I having a hub II I rockably receivedupon the outer portion of the stud bearing I04 for the large gear E03.At its upper end the operating lever H0 is tapped for the reception ofthe operating handle I I2, the handle proper being in they form of aroll loosely received on a screwheaded pin 1 I3 threaded at its innerend. The handle may thus be assembled with the operating lever in eitherof the two positions indicated in full and dotted lines respectively inFigs. 4 and 5, as may be preferred by the operator or operators and tofacilitate access from either or both sides of the machine.

The operating lever has a one-way or freewheel connection with the largegear I03. Such one-way drive provision may be of any suitable type, suchfor example as a Horton clutch, and herein for the purpose I have showna ratchet disc I05 and associated pawl means desirably and herein havinga plural-point drive connection with the engaged element or disc, asseen in Figs. 1 and '7. Referring to said figures, the drive connectionsinclude one or more pawls, of which two are indicated, at I I4 and H5,mounted for rocking movement on studs H6 and Ill respectively, at theinner face of the operating lever H0, and at equally spaced orsubstantially diametrically opposed points with respect to the leverhub. If more than two pawls areemployed theygare preferably equallyspaced in a.

similar manner about the lever axis, the lever being broadened orforked, if necessary, to accommodate the additional pawl or pawls. The

pawls are provided. with actuating springs H8 and H9 havingcoiledportions I20 and I2I seated on the pins' I22 and I23 on the lever andheld in position as by the cotter pin indicated. The outer ends I24 andI25 of the respective springs are held under tension against other lugsI26, I21 on the control lever while their opposite ends engage over pinsI28, I29 upon the respective pawls, thereby yieldingly urging the latterinto engagement with the ratchet disc I05. The described pawlarrangement afiords a balanced drive connection for the operating leverwith substantial freedom from lost movement and if desired the two pawlsmay be disposed one slightly in advance of the other, for example, bythe distance of one-half a tooth, still further eliminating lost motion.

The operating lever IIO desirably and as illustrated is of such lengthbetween its pivot I04 and the handle proper II2 as to afford amechanical advantage of between three and four to one, but is soconstructed and arranged with relation to the machine as a whole as toavoid objectionable projection beyond the latter at any point in itsoperation. It will be noted, for example, that the pivot point I04 ofthe operating lever, referring particularly to Fig. 1, is substantiallymid-length of the machine and belowmidheight, and that the lever, evenin its extreme forward or down position, terminates substantially in theplane of the front of the reservoir, while in its rearmost position, asseen in Figs. 2 and 4, the lever extends above the machine only aboutone-third of its length and merely to an extent whereby it is readilyand conveniently accessible to the hand of the operator.

The entire operating mechanism for the feed means including the geartrain and the inner portion of the operating lever is enclosed by ademountable housing or cover I30, seen separately, as viewed from theinside, in Fig. 8, and externally in Figs. 1 and 3 to 5. This gearhousing cooperates with and complements an arcuate flange or housingportion I3I cast orotherwise formed directly upon the right side frameI, see particularly Figs. 3 and 4. ,The housing I30, which is of generalquadrant shape, is formed with a hollowboss I33 adaptedto enclose thehub of the operating lever in concentrically spaced relation, and with arear wall or flange I34 carrying the attaching ears I35, I36, a thirdattaching ear I3I being formed on a lower front flange. The arcuateupper and front portion of the housing is also formed with an inturnedflange I30, in alignment with the fixed flange I3I on the side frame butspaced from it, in the assembled position of the housing, sufficientlyto provide the arcuate slot I40 .for the swinging movement of the feedlever.

The housing or gear cover I30 also serves to support demountably thereturn spring I4I for the operating lever. This spring comprises acoiled intermediate portion I42 surrounding the hollow boss I33previously mentioned. One end of the spring is hooked about theoperating lever as indicated at I43, Fig. 8, see also Fig. 1, while theopposite end is tensioned by bearing against the lower flange of thecover or selectively, should greater tension be desired, by reception inone or another of the notches I44 in a rib I45 formed on the housing,whereby the tension of the lever return spring may be adjustably varied.When the cover plate or housing I30 is demounted the end of the springpreviously engaged with the operating lever is received against theadjacent rear flange of the cover so that the spring remains in positionwith respect to the cover and is thus more conveniently handled.

The rearward position of the operating lever is defined by suitable stopmeans, herein comprising arubber or other buffer I48 replaceably held ina seat Ml on a bracket I38 on the right side frame,.the bufier beingretained in its seat as by a screw-held plate me. For cooperation withthe buffer, the lever Ill] has a lateral projection or stop I543, inline with the buffer. I desirably also provide cooperating means fordamping or checking possible rebound of the operating lever and for thispurpose, see particularly Figs. 1 and 8, I have illustrated a lateralpin I5?! on the lever and extending into the path of a nubbin I50 on ayieldable spring element I56 secured at one point upon a fixed part,herein on the innerv face of the cover plate Iti). Said nubbin or backstop element I50 and the pin Iiitl on the lever are so disposed withrelation to the buffer or rear stop I46 for the return movement of thelever that the pin will just ride past the nubbin as the lever reachesthe limit of its return movement, the nubbin immediately moving out infront of the pin to retain the lever substantially in its rearmostposition. In this manner any possible damage to the elements of theone-way drive or ratchet mechanism, which might be occasioned by reboundof the lever, is avoided and the accuracy of operation of the machine,to feed desired lengths of tape, is increased, as otherwise a possiblerebound of the lever might cause the feed of a short length of tape,unnoticed by the operator, which length would be added to that of thenext feed operation and so produce a longer strip than elected by theoperator.

As previously noted, the construction and arrangement is desirably suchthat approximately a one-third rotation of the large gear I95 and hencea swinging of the lever itself through a corresponding arc serves tofeed out the maximum one-stroke length of tape, for example,

thirty inches. In other words, the operating lever has a stroke ofapproximately one-third of a complete circumference, the full strokebeing represented as 125 in Fig. 6. In some instances, particularlywhere the call is predominantly for maximum lengths of the tape, theforward and downward or maximum feed position of the lever may bedetermined by stopping engagement of the lever with the laterallyprojecting portion of the flange of the cover, at the bottom of leverslot I40. But in order that various selected intermediate lengths oftape may readily be obtained, by setting the mechanism for such lengths,I desirably provide adjustable stop means in association with the feedlever and herein operatively related to the gear housing or cover plateI30. Y

The latter accordingly is formed with an arcuate slot I5I in which isslidably positioned a stud I52 having an inner end or head I52 lying asa stop in the path of a finger or projection I53 on the operating lever.The outer end of this stud is threaded for the reception of a thumb orhand nut I54, preferably of the substantial and easily manipulatedhexagonal or like construction illustrated, adapted to tighten the stophead I52 against the cover, to hold it adjustably at any selectedposition along the arcuate slot.

To assist the operator in arriving at known lengths of tape I mayprovide a scale I55, Figs. 3 and 4, calibrated in units of tape lengths,for example, inches, and the stud or stop may carry a pointer forcooperation with the scale. As illustrated such pointer is a separableelement having a hub portion I56 received on the flattened portion ofthe stop or stud I52 which moves in the arcuate slot I5I, and anindicating portion or pointer proper I51 extending over the graduatedscale 55. The latter is shown as a separable strip removably secured, asby rivets or the like I58, on the arcuate flange of the cover plate,where it directly faces and may be readily viewed by the operator.Obviously also the scale whether graduated in inches or otherwiseaffords means whereby the operator may quickly determine at any instantduring an actual feeding operation the particular length of tape whichhas been delivered past the severing means, and in this connection theleading edge or other part of the operating lever may be utilized as apointer or indicator in connection with said index or scale I55, or thelever may conveniently be provided with a projection or pointer I59directly overlying the scale and moving along the latter during thefeeding operation. As illustrated, there may be provided in associationwith the scale I two series of indicia or numbers, series I55 having itszero end at the rear limit of the feed lever and the other series I55reading oppositely, with its zero point at or adjacent the forwardposition of the feed lever.

As a still further aid to the operator in arriving at desired differentlengths of tape, the arcuate flange I 3| on the side frame may also beconstituted as a scale or length indicator in cooperation with the leveror a portion thereof, or with a special pointer I60 on the lever and inthis instance disposed oppositely to the pointer I59 previouslymentioned, so that pointer and scale means is provided at both sides ofthe lever. That at the inside face of the lever is particularly adaptedfor cooperation with marks which an individual operator may wish toplace along the arcuate flange as a scale, for which purpose the lattermay be provided with a removable strip or other surface I6I adapted formaking. For example, if handling a number of packages of standardizedform and size, an operator will have repeated calls for strips of saythree difierent but standard lengths. On determining what such lengthsare, he may mark the inner scale accordingly, with some special marking,such as L, M, S, for long, medium, and short, or others selected to suitthe circumstances, thus calibrating the inner scale to suit hisindividual requirements.

The manner of threading or loading the machine for use will be apparentfrom the foregoing description. It is necessary merely to open the coverI4 and drop a roll of tape into the well or tape chamber, bringing theloose or leading end of the tape up from the back of the roll, glue sidedown in the case of rolls wrapped glue side in, or up at the front ofthe roll in instances where the glue is at the outside in the roll. Ineither instance the tape is passed forwardly over the upper guide roll25, with the glue side down, and is inserted under the rear floatingdeflector 61, up to the pinch rolls. A forward pull on the operatinglever III] will then cause the tape} to feed through, past the severingand moistening means and over the delivery table to the user.

When a desired length of tape has been fed and moistened, it is cut off,between the moistener and the feed means, by the knife or severing meansalready described. In accordance with my present invention I desirablyprovide alternate means for operating the cut-off knife, whereby thisoperation may be controlled, preferably at the front of the machine atthe will of the operator, or may be effected automatically by the returnof the operating lever IIll to its normal rearward or rest position.

As best seen in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 10, a de-- pending link I65 isengaged with the movable blade near its free end, as by removablyhooking the same through an aperture in the blade. The lower end of thelink I65 is looped about a button I66 at the inner end of a cut-offlever I61 which is demountably pivoted as at 68 upon the adjacent sideframe I. This lever is extended forwardly of the side frames to a pointconvenient to the hand of the operator and is provided with an operatingpiece I69 whereby it may readily be depressed. The movable knife $2 isnormally held down, and the operating end of the cut-off leverconsequently up, by means of a coil spring I10 the upper end of which isremovably engaged or hooked over the inner end of the link I65 while itslower end is anchored upon the side frame, as by hooking engagement withthe edge of an aperture I12 formed in the latter for the purpose,desirably somewhat to the rear of the plane of the knives, to assist intensioning the swinging blade transversely.

The construction and arrangement of this cut-off lever H37, in relationto the feed lever H0, is desirably such that as the operator completes aforward or feeding stroke of the latter his hand comes directlytransversely opposite the operating piece I69 of the cut-off lever andsufficiently close so that the latter may be enand depressed, by theoperators thumb or other portion of his hand, without shifting his handfrom the feed lever handle, but substantially as a continuation of thetape feeding movement of his hand or arm. The upper and lower limits ofswinging movement of the cutoff lever are determined by suitable stopssuch as the upper and lower lugs HI and I1I Fig. 4, on the adjacent sideframe.

Either as an alternative or as an additional control for the severingmeans I may provide the automatic operating mechanism seen in Figs. 1, 2and 4. For this purpose the gear housing or cover plate I 3i) haspivoted as at I13 a rock arm i1 2 having a depending portion and a shortupper portion in which is seated a spring-pressed plunger H5 having aninclined upper face or cam surface as indicated at I16 in position tocooperate with the inner portion of the forward stud til at the bottomof the operating lever, previously referred to. The lower end of theyrock arm I'l' l is pivotally connected as by a link 111 with the reararm I18 of a bell crank I19 pivoted at 136 on the side frame or on anear depending from it. The front arm of the bell crank IE9 is in turnpivotally connected at I8I with the lower end of a lever I82 the upperportion of which is slotted as indicated at I83 for reception of theshank of the button I66 on the cut-off lever I61. This slotted orlost-motion connection of the lever I82 with the cut-off lever permitsthe latter to be operated independently of the automatic cut-off means,whereby the; tape may be cut off at any time, at the will of theoperator, so long as the feed means is stationary, and irrespective ofthe particular position of the feed lever at the time.

In Fig. 2 the lower end of the feed lever is shown in its normalrearward or rest position. Assume now that it is pulled forward to feeda length of tape, its lower end accordingly moving counter-clockwise orto the right in Fig. 2, the plunger I15 of the rock arm I14 is at thistime depressed by the pin I21 on the operating lever, the pin moving tothe rear of the plunger. When the feed lever is subsequently releasedfor return by its spring MI, at the end of a feed stroke, whatever thelength of such stroke, the bottom end of the lever again swingsforwardly, to the left in Fig. 2, bringing the pin 21 into engagementwith the rear face of the plunger I15 and accordingly tilting the rockarm I14 in the counter-clockwisedirection, as indicated by the arrowupon it, and through the link connector I11 rocking the bell crank I19in the opposite direction, as also shown by an arrow. Accordingly thelever H82 is elevated. As theshank of the button I66 stands in thebottom of the slot I33 in said lever, the link I65 connecting with themoving blade is likewise lifted, elevating the knife againstthe pull ofthe relatively weak spring I and severing the tape. In thus operatingthe knife, the feed lever turns the rock arm I14 sufliciently to permitthe plunger I15 again to pass to the rear of the pin I21, into thestarting position as illustrated in Fig. 2. The down or rest position ofthe bell crank I19 and associated parts, to which they are urged by theknife spring I10, is limited as by the stop pin I8 3 upon the sideframe.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 I have illustrated in connection with the machineof Figs. 1 to 8 already described a further novel construction for thetape feeding, guiding, severing and moistening means. The mechanismshown in these figures is adapted to be employed directly in the machineof the construction already de-- scribed or in other similar mannereither as a preferred or modified embodiment, similar reference numeralsindicating similar parts as already described. Referring to said Figs. 9to 11, I have determined from extensive experiments that the tape orstrip material, generally paper such as a kraft or manila paper, may bedispensed more rapidly and efficiently and may be more easily handled,in substantially straight non-curling lengths, by bowing or arcing ittransversely. This arcing or bowing of the tape I find to be moreeffective if carried through all or a majority of the operations ofdispensing it. Accordingly in Figs. 9 to 11 I have shown speciallyconstructed guiding, feeding, severing and moistening means foraccomplishing this purpose. With reference to said figures generally itwill be noted that all parts which have engagement directly with thetape are formed upon an arc, of uniform radius with respect to all theparts, and having its highest point substantially in the longitudinalmedian line of the tape path. Considering first Fig. 9, the main feedplatform is formed with the longitudinal central arch I85, and the rearfloating deflector plate 61 is correspondingly curved or arched, asindicated at I86. This arcuate formation is desirably carried throughthe entire length of the feed platform and guide means including theauxiliary front platform 52, beginning at the rear edge of the mainplatform, so that the tape immediately as it passes forwardly over theCPI roll 25 and beneath the rear deflector 61 begins to receive itsbowed or arched form. In keeping with this construction the peripheralsurfaces of the lower and the upper feed rolls 35, 36 are maderespectively convex and concave in the manner as indicated in Fig. 9 atI81 and I88.

Beyond the feeding and guiding means the arched tape passes beneath thesimilarly arched or concave portion I83 of the fixed blade 56. Themovable lower blade 62 likewise has its shearing edge 198 formed upon asubstantially similar are but of sufficiently modified or slightlyflattened contour, toward the free end of the blade, to retain thedesired progressive shearing or cutting action across the tape. That is,the cutting action is progressively across and along the desired arc, ina shearing manner and without tendency to flatten the tape.

From the severing means of Fig. 10 the tape passes over the frontportion 52 of the platform, arched as at 52 Fig. 11, to and past themoistening means, including, in Fig. 11, the capillary wick or brush Bilthe upper edge of which is also curved upon asimilar are as alreadydescribed, so that the free ends of its hairs or bristles are adapted tohave moistening engagement with the under face of the tape while thesame retains its bowed or curved condition. For guiding the tape overthe moistener or brush I may provide aplate or deflector similar to themember '92 illustrated in Figs. 1. to 8 but upwardly curved transverselyin conformity with the curvature of the brush, or, as seen in Fig. 11, Imay employ a tape guiding and depressing roller Isl of hour-glass orconcave shape conforming to the curvature of the brush. Said roller iscarried on a spindle I92 bearing in blocks I93 floating between suitableguides I94 on the side flanges 53 of the front platform 52, or in somecases rear extensions of said blocks may be supported on the attachingscrews fi l for optional floating or fixed positioning of the rollerIsl.

Referring now to Figs. 12 to 14, I have there illustrated other meansfor determining the lengths of tape to be dispensed. Parts not otherwisereferred to may be assumed to be the same as in Figs. 1 to 8. Under someworking conditions it is found desirable to be able to dispense eitherof two predetermined or set lengths of tape, either alternately or firsta number of pieces of one length and then one or more pieces of theother length. In such cases a plural stop and signaling arrangement forobtaining different positive predetermined lengths of tape may beemployed, as illustrated for example in Figs. 12 to 1 1. As there shown,a supplemental stop or signaling arm I95 is loosely pivoted on the bossI33 ofthe gear cover I38. This stop or signaling arm is normallystationary but may be swung to various adjusted positions correspondingto the desired less-thanone-stroke length of tape, or corresponding to arequired overlength; for example, if a forty inch piece is wanted, thefull-stroke feed being thirty inches, the arm may be set to mark a backstroke of the feed lever equivalent to ten inches of tape, and then,after making one fulllength forward stroke, and without operating thecut-off lever IN, the operator will allow the feed lever to make onlysaid partial back stroke, to the indicated ten inch point, from which hewill again move the lever forward to complete the feeding of the fortyinch length of tape, which. may then be out 01f either by operating thecut-off lever IE7 or automatically by permitting a full return of thefeed lever. The arm is of a length to extend over the outer arcuateguide slot II for the main stop I52 in the cover plate. In line withsaid slot the arm I95 carries a pin 95 having a headed portion I97 atits inner end and threaded at its outer end for reception of a wing nutI98 whereby the arm as a whole may be fixedly secured in the desiredposition of adjustment. A supplemental arcuate slot 899 isconcentrically formed in the cover plate for the sliding reception of aboss 20!] on the arm. Within said boss is housed a spring-pressedplunger 2M, having a pin-and-slot connection 2&2 with the boss to holdthe plunger against rotating. The plunger is normally urged inwardly bythe coil spring 2%, bearing between a collar 2% on the plunger and a cap205 adjustably threaded on the outer end of the boss 2%. A knurled heador finger piece 285 is mounted at the outer end of the plunger, forpulling it out, it desirably being rotatable with respect to the plungeritself. A pin 261 projects out from the cap, of a length to hold out theplunger by engagement with the inner face of the head 2%, the latterhaving an aperture 2% adapted to come opposite and receive the pin 257,to let in the plunger.

For cooperation with the spring-pressed plunger QGI the feed lever llilis formed with the supplemental abutment 299 one or both faces of whichare beveled as indicated at m. EZIIJ for cooperation with thecorresponding beveled face or faces ii I, 2i I of the plunger.

Assume now that the supplemental arm I95 has been set in some suchposition as shown in Fig. 12, and that first a relatively long length oftape is desired, for example, corresponding to the position of the mainstop I52 as seen in Fig. 12. As the feeding lever is drawn forwardly thecam formation 2H3 of the supplemental abutment 209 on the feed leverengages the beveled face 2H of the plunger and cams the latteroutwardly, so permitting the feed lever 'to pass forwardly beyond it,until halted by the main stop I52? The length of tape thus fed may becut off, by depressing the lever IE1, or an additional length may firstbe fed out. The plunger 720i meanwhile has snapped back into itsposition of Fig. 13, in which it may limit or retard the subsequentreturn movement of the feed lever, although by reason of the doublebeveled or cam construction of the plunger and the abutment 2513, thelever may intentionally be forced back to full return position whendesired, it being understood that the spring pressure of the plunger isadjusted so that the plunger retards the lever or affords a signalduring its movement in one or the opposite direction, in the manner of atelltale, but permits the operator to pass the plunger by a continuedpressure on the lever. The telltale or plunger 2m accordingly may beused as a means or signal for limiting a forward stroke of the feedlever, from a position rearwardly of the plunger, or for limitingarearward stroke of the feed lever, from a position forwardly of theplunger. The scale I55 previously described, in which the graduationsread from zero at the bottom or front of the machine, increasingrearwardly, may be utilized in connection with the positioning of thestop arm I95. If it is desired to deliver successively more than one ofthe greater lengths of tape, the plunger 2M may readily be passed asabove described, to permit the full return of the feed struction for thetape guiding or deflector means lever, or should it be desirable torender the supplemental plunger inoperative for any period of time it ismerely drawn out and its head 206 rotated to carry the aperture 208 outof line with the pin 201, the outer end of which thus holds the plungerout until again released by bringing said aperture again opposite. thepin and permitting the plunger to spring in. .It will be understood oneor more additional arms I of Fig. 12, together with the associatedparts, may be provided when desired.

In Figs. 15 and 16 I have illustrated other means for obtaining two orany desired plurality:

of predetermined or set positive lengths of tape, with capacity forshifting rapidly from any one length to another, in .no usual or orderedsequence, which means may be employed either as a substitute for ortogether with the lengthdetermining mechanism of any of the previousfigures. Referring to said Figs. 15 and 16, the initial or main stop andindex element l52-l51, as fully described in connection with Figs. 1 to8, is there shown together with one additional stop and pointer unit,comprising a pin 2I2, its head for stop 2| 3, pointer 214 and tighteningnut 2|5, all of similar construction as said parts I52 to I57. It willbe understood that any desired number of such stops may be providedwithin the structural limits of the mechanism. In this instance thecooperating stop element upon the feed lever H0, corresponding to thestop element .153 of Figs. 1 to 8, is movably mounted, so that it may berendered inoperative at any desired time. It comprises, see particularlyFig. 16, a slidable plunger 2| 6 in a housing or boss 2|! on the lever.Said plunger is normally urged outwardly, to the right in Fig. 16, as bymeans of the coil spring 2I8. A pin 219 projects from the plunger,through a corresponding slot in the housing, and is engaged in anarcuate slot 220 in a dog 22! pivoted as at 222 on the housing. Theupper portion of said dog has a hook- 223 engaging the lower end of avertical push rod 24 slidablyheld, in general parallelism with the feedlever, in guides 225 on the latter. The push rod is extended upwardly toa point conveniently adjacent the handle H2 of the feed lever, where itis provided with a head or. finger piece 2226 which is easily engageableby the thumb or other operation of the operators hand while holding thefeed lever handle. The push rod is normally held up in raised positionas by means of the coil spring 221 between the head of the rod and theupper guide 225.

By merely depressing the push rod 224 the dog 22l is swung down,withdrawing the plunger 216 into its housing and out of the path of thesupplemental stop 213 and of the others, if more than one is provided.As seen in Fig. 16 the lower or main stop l52 extends inwardly fartherthan the supplemental stop H3, and any additional stop may be of acorresponding graduated length, so that by depressing the push rod 224to different extents the plunger may be withdrawn from active engagementwith all of the stops or merely as to selected ones. Thus the operatoris enabled to pass any stop at any instant he may desire to do so,readily shifting from one length of tape feed to another, ordisregarding the stops entirely and feeding out measured lengths of tapeby watching the progress of the lever or its pointers I59 or along oneor another of the scales and halting the feed at the length he wishes.

In Figs. 17 and 18 is illustrated a further conat the front of themachine, in association with the moistener. Parts not otherwise referredto in said figures may be considered to be the same as in precedingfigures.

In this instance said deflector element comprises a plate 230 having asubstantially flat under face. It is pivotally mounted at its rearportion, as upon the rear pair of screws 54 or inward extensionsthereof, whereby it may be swung back out of operative position toexpose the underlying brush or moistener 80. The defiector element orguide 230 has a normal or operative position in which it is fixed, withits underface contacting or substantially contacting the moistener.saidfixed position, herein by means of a pair. of resilient or springfingers 231 fixed at the sides of the plate, herein upon the sideframes,by means of the fore pairs of screws 54. Said fingers haverecesses or apertures 232 for the reception of laterally projecting pins233 on the plate 230. In this manner the guide orplate 230 may be freedfor swinging back, by flexing the spring fingers outwardly till theyclear said pins 233. When swung down again the fingers snap back,inwardly, to engage'the pins through the apertures 232, again fixing theplate in position to guide the tape over and past the brush or moisturein .moistening relation with it.

Other constructions of tape guiding and moistening means capable'of usein connection with machines of my present invention are disclosed andclaimed in my Patents Nos. 1,732,- 637, 1,732,638 and 1,732,639, datedOctober 22, 1929. 1

Certain subject matter" disclosed but not claimed herein is claimed indivisional or continuing applications, three of which have ma tured intopatents as follows: Patent No. 2,035,376, granted March 24, 1936covering certain moistening means as illustrated for example in Fig. 18hereof, and Patent Nos. 2,066,617 and 2,066,618, granted Jaunary 5, 1937and covering selective feed-length control means as illustrated forexample in 15-16, and Figs. 12to 14 hereof.

My invention. is not limited to the particular illustrative embodimentsherein shown and described, its scope being set forth in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a gummed tape serving machine of the type having spaced sideframes providing 'a tape roll chamber between their rear portions andhaving tape guiding, feeding, severing and moistening means between saidframes, in advance of the roll chamber, a feed lever pivoted on one sideframe for swinging movement in a vertical plane adjacent said frame,operating connections between the lever and the tape feeding means, anda laterally. projecting hand grip at the outer end of said lever anddetachably connected therewith for positioning optionally at one or theother side of the lever so as to be conveniently grasped by an operatoror operators at one or the other side of the machine,

2. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a frameincluding a tape roll support, guide means providing a path for the tapefrom said support, opposed rotary feed members for advancing the tape,an operating lever having feeding and return movements, connections.between the lever and said feed members, spring means for returning thelever, a stop element It is readily releasably held in.

guide roller, tape feed wheels for advancing the-v tape along its path,and a tape-engaging ele-.

ment rotatably supported on the frame intermediate the roll support andsaid feed wheels,

at a point below but in advance of said upper guide roller, said elementadapted to flex the tape reversely during its passage to said guide iroller, thereby to counteract curling tendency in the tape.

4. In a gummed tape serving machine, in combination, a main frameincluding side frames, a tape roll support and tape guide means, opposedtape feeding rolls rotatably supported between the side frames, one rollbeing fixed on a shaft equipped with a drive pinion, drive gears forsaid pinion, a feed lever pivotally mounted outside the frames andcoaxially with the end gear, one-way drive connections between said gearand the feed lever, a stationary demountable housing enclosing said endgear and the inner portion of the feed lever and formed to provide achannel for the travel of the outer portion of the feed lever, a pair ofarouate flange members along the feed lever channel, one at each sidethereof and disposed concentrically with the lever pivot, a scaleelement on the exposed upper face of each flange member, and pointermeans at the opposite sides of the feed lever and cooperablerespectively with said scale elements for use in controlling the tapefeed.

5. In a gummed tape serving machine, in combination, a main frameincluding side frames, a tape roll support and tape guide means, opposedtape feeding rolls rotatably supported between the side frames, one rollbeing fixed on a shaft equipped with a drive pinion, drive gears forsaid pinion, a feed lever pivotally mounted outside the frames andcoaxially with the end gear, one-way drive connections between said gearand the feed lever, said lever, gearing and drive connections positionedat the outer face of one of the side frames, an upwardly and forwardlyfacing quadrant-shaped laterally projecting flange formed integrallyupon said face of said side frame and concentrically with the feed leverpivot, said flange partially surrounding said gearing and drivemechanism, and a similarly shaped housing plate demountably received onand secured to the frame in fixed position covering said gearing anddrive mechanism, said housing plate having an integral inwardly.projecting peripheral flange having its upper and front portionsaligning with but laterally spaced from the flange member of the frameto provide a feed lever operating channel between them, the

remaining portions of said plate and its flange' completing a stationaryhousing for said gearing, drive connections and the inner portion of thefeed lever, said flanges adapted to support index means for cooperationwith pointer means moving with the feed lever.

6. In a machine for dispensing moistened gummed tape particularly forpackage sealing purposes, in combination, a frame, supporting means onthe frame for a tape roll, tape feeding means including an operatinglever having forward and rearward limits of movement and having a tapefeeding movement in one direction and a return movement in the oppositedirection, means to moisten the tape as fed, means to sever a length oftape fed from the supply, and measuring means for the tape coordinatedwithsaid feeding, moistening and severing means, said measuring meanscomprising an indeXed scale element provided with a plurality of seriesof figures, one series increasing in value from a minimum adjacent therear feeding limit of the operating lever and the other seriesincreasing in value from the same minimum adjacent the'forward feedinglimit of the operating lever, whereby any given length of tape betweenthe maximum and minimum obtainable by one feeding movement of theoperating lever may be measured optionally in association with movementof the operating lever in the feeding direction or in the returndirection.

7. In a gummed tape serving machine, in combination with a frame, a taperoll support and tape guide means, opposed feed rolls for advancing thetape between them, one roll being fixed on a shaft equipped with a drivepinion, drive gears for said pinion, a feed lever pivoted coaxially withthe end gear, a detachable plate on the frame covering the lower portionof the feed lever and associated parts, and a feed lever return springmounted on said plate at the inner face thereof and detachablyassociated with the feed lever for demounting as a unit with saidplate.

8. In a gummed tape serving machine, in combination, a frame, a supportfor a tape supply, means to advance and guide the tape for delivery, anoperating lever for said means, having actuating and return movements, amovable blade for cutting off the tape, a cutter lever for manuallyactuating the blade, said cutter lever having a hand piece readilyaccessible at the front of the machine, a pivotal support for the cutterlever, means operatively connecting the blade and the cutter lever, arock member having lost-motion connectionwith the blade, andinterengaging means between said rock member and the operating lever ofthe machine, permitting forward movement of the operating leverindependently of the movable blade and cutter lever but effectingactuation of the movable blade during the return movement of theoperating lever.

9. In a gummed tape serving machine, in combination, a frame, a supportfor a tape supply, means to advance and guide the tape for delivery, amovable cutter element for cutting off a length of tape advanced, amanual operating lever for the advancing means, having a forwardtape-advancing movement and a return movement, a depressible cutterlever manually accessible to an operator at the front of the machine,operating connections between said cutter lever and the movable cutterelement for manually actuating the latter independently of the operaply,means to advance and guide the tape for delivery, a movable cutterelement for cutting off a length of tape advanced, a manual operatinglever for the advancing means, having a forward tape-advancing movementand a return movement, a depressible cutter lever manually accessible toan operator at the front of the machine, and operating connectionsassociating said cutter element, cutter lever and operating leverwhereby the operator may sever the tape optionally by depressing saidcutter lever, irrespective of the position of the feed lever, or byutilizing the return movement of the operating lever.

11. In a gummed tape serving machine, in combination, a frame, a supportfor a tape supply, roll means to feed the tape, an operating leverhaving a feed actuating movement and a non-feeding movement, a movablecutter to sever the tape, a cutter-lever having a manual operating piecereadily accessible at the front of the machine, means operativelyconnecting the cut ter-lever with the cutter, and operative connectionsbetween the feed-operating lever and the cutter whereby the latter isactuated by said operating lever during its non-feeding movement, saidcutter-lever being operableto sever the tape independently of the feedlever. 1

12; In a gummed tape serving machine a frame, means thereon forsupporting a tape roll;

a feed table for the tape, a pair of feed rolls for advancing the tapealong the table from its roll, a floating deflector plate restingflatwise on the table in the absence of tape and upon the tape whenpresent, said plate having an upturned rear portion for receiving andguiding the tape beneath it, and lug-and-slot engaging, formationsbetween said plate and the. table, removably retaining the plate inoperative'position with capacity for play both transversely of,

I and in, the plane of the tape.

13. In a gummed tape serving machine in accordance with claim 12, theconstruction wherein one feed roll has its axis below the table and thelatter has aslot formation through which the roll engages the tape, andthe floating deflector plate has a corresponding slotted formation forpassage of the feed rolls.

14. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a frameincluding a tape roll support, guide means providing a path for the tapefrom said support, rotary means for advancing the tape along its path, adeflector plate above the tape path adjacent said rotary means, saidplate constructed and arranged to float upon the upper face of the tapepassing beneath it, horizontal positioning formations for holding theplate in position with capacity for play both transversely of, and in,the plane of the tape, and other means for retaining said plate inoperative but readily bodily removable position on the machine.

15. In a gummed tape serving machine, in combination, spaced sideframes, a support for a tape roll between the frames and means to guidethe tape forwardly from it, a pair of relatively yieldable feed rollsadapted to advance the tape by engagement at its opposite faces, one ofsaid rolls fixed on a shaft for driving it, a swinging lever having ahand grip at its outer portion and pivotally mounted at its opposite endportion upon one of the side frames, a train of gears on said side frameincluding at one end a gear coaxial with the lever pivot and operable bythe lever, said train operatively connected at its other end with theshaft of the driven feed roll and having a ratio of at least one to ten,the non-driven feed roll comprising a shaft and an inner hub-like partconcentrically supported thereby and an outer tape-engaging tire-likepart of light-weight construction, said outer part being at all timesconcentric with but ro- 1 tatable independently of said shaft and innerpart, the lattenhaving a radius at leastequal to one-half that of thetire-like outer part, and friction-reducing bearing means between saidparts, whereby said high gear ratio is consistent with ease' of manualstarting and operation of the operating lever; I

16. In a gummed tape serving machine, in combination,a frame, a. supportthereon for a gummed tape supply, tape feeding means, means to arch thetape uniformly transversely as it is fed'and so that its gummed face isconcave, and a brush moistener having its hairs or bristles of graduatedlength from side to side of the brush so that the .free ends of saidhairs or bristles are disposed along a uniform arc transverse of thetape path and ma plane substantiallyperpendicular thereto, formoistening engagement with the gummed 'face of the tape along the lineof said are, and a correspondingly concavely arched roller cooperablewith the other face of the tape to insure full-width.

moistening engagement thereof with said brush moistenenthe latter andsaid roller being positioned for relative yielding movement. I i

17. In a gummed tape serving machine, in combination, a frame, a supportthereon for a. gummed tape supply, tape feeding means, means to arch thetape uniformly transversely as it is fed and so that its gummed face isconcave and the tape being fed with its gummed face down, an upwardlydirected brush moistener having the free ends of its hairs or bristlesdisposed along a uniformarc transverse of the tape path, for moisteningengagement with the gummed under face of the tape along the-line of saidare, and a guide roller yieldably disposed above the brush moistener andhaving its periphery shaped in conformity with it for cooperativeguiding engagement with the upper, ungummed face of the tape.

18. In a gummed tape serving machine, in combination, a frame, a taperoll support, tape guiding means, means for advancing the tape along thelatter, with its gummed face down, a non-rotary capillary moistenerelement for engagement with the under face of the tape, and an overlyingtape deflector having a substantially flat rear portion, at a levelbelow the top of the moistener element, and cooperating with said tapeguiding means to conduct the tape tothe moistener element, alongitudinally arched intermediate portion spanning the moistenerelement, and a forwardly and downwardly inclined front portion, inadvance of the moistener element, for positively deflecting the tapedownwardly into moistening engagement with the moistener element as itpasses over the latter between said front and rear portions of thedeflector, said flront and rear portions having means cooperating withfixed parts of the machine to retain the deflector in stationaryoperative position wherein it is out of contact with any portion of themoistener element in the absence of the tape.

19. In a gummed tape serving machine, in combination; cross-connectedside frames supporting between them a'tape roll chamber, tape guides,and tape feeding means; a tape severing unit comprising two shear bladeshaving at one end portion a pivot pin connecting them for swingingmovement of one blade relative to and upon the other; adjustable springmeans carried by the blades for urging the swinging blade toward thefixed one; and means for adjustably and demountably supporting saidsevering unit as a whole in operative position transversely of the tapepath, said supporting means including threaded members on the nonswinging blade, adjacent each side frame, and inwardly projectinghorizontally slotted ears on the side frames receiving said threadedmembers at variable positions relative to the tape path.

20. In a gummed tape serving machine, in combination, a frame includinga tape roll support, guide means providing a path for the tape from saidsupport, a tape feed wheel engageable with one face of the tape, and arotary feed unit at the opposite tape face and cooperating with" saidwheel to advance the tape, said unit comprising a shaft mounted foryielding movement toward and from said feed wheel, spring means urgingthe shaft toward said feed wheel, an annular tire-like membersurrounding the shaft in fixed concentric axial position relativethereto and peripherally engageable with the tape, a concentric innermember surrounded by said tirelike member and supported coaxially onsaid shaft, said inner member having a radius at least equal to one-halfthat of the peripheral tapeengaging portion of said tire-like member,said inner and surrounding members having annular radially spacedportions between them providing a ball-bearing race, and ball bearingsin said .race.

21. In a gummed tape serving machine, in combination, a frame, a supportat the rear thereof for a tape supply, feed rolls forwardly of saidsupply support and operable to advance the tape from the latter fordelivery at the front of the machine, a moistening element adjacent thedelivery end of the machine and having an upper tape-engaging portion, atape guiding platform underlying the tape path from the supply supportbehind the feed rolls and extending to and past the latter andsubstantially up to said tapeengaging portion of the moistening element,said platform throughout its full extent being similarly archedtransversely of the tape path along a uniform uninterrupted line ofcurvature having a radius at least equal to the width of the Widest tapeto be served, overlying means along the entire extent of the platformfor conforming the tape to said arched formation, the aforesaidmoistening element having its tape-engaging portion arched similarly asthe platform, and correspondingly arched guiding means oppositely abovesaid arched portion of the moistening element to conduct the tape inarched moistening relation past the latter.

22. In a gummed tape serving machine, in combination, a frame, a supportat the rear portion thereof for a supply of gummed tape, tape feed meansforwardly of the supply support, tape moistening means adjacent thedelivery end of the machine, tape severing means intermediate the feedmeans and the moistening means, said severing means including fixed andmovable members, and platform means and overlying guide means formingtherewith a passage for the tape, said platform and overlying means extending from the supply support to and past the feeding and the severingmeans and substantially up to the moistening means, and said feedingmeans, moistening means, the fixed member of said severing means andsaid platform and overlying guide means all having their tape-engageableportions, including the full length of said platform and overlyingmeans, all similarly disposedalong a continuous arc transverse of thetape path, whereby said machine is adapted to receive from the supplyinitially flat tape of uniform transverse strength and to delivermoistened, severed lengths thereof in uniformly transversely archednon-creased form.

TREVOR R. GAUTIER.

